[dry_gulch]

Hello all, I have a really fat wether. He is the best goat ever, he just is a pig in goat fur. He is a pygmy, so he is also a wizard at getting out of pens. Nearly all the other goats I have are his children and he doesn't like them much, he is also the boss of the herd so he pushes others away from the food pans. But he is getting to where he is walking, er, waddling and I can't figure out what to do. He is bright-eyed and seems to feel ok, but his walk. Oh dear. His hooves are in decent shape and he is utd on CDT. They all have free choice good quality hay and some browse, and I give them a pelleted food. I have been bad about giving him 'treats' but I have stopped that. It has been really cold and rainy here the last couple of weeks so none of them have been moving much, but the sun and warmth are back. He used to run around with the herd but now he just follows them. Any suggestions, barring starving them all? The other goats are nice and round pygmies, very lively and happy.

 

[enjoytheride]

I have a fatty too but since I only have two goats and their occasional offspring it is easier for me. The only thing I can see to do is to get a trailer tie (short and has panic clip,) and offer him a bit of feed first while he is tied to the fence post- while all the other goats get their regular rations and hopefully eat most of it while he is restrained. Or find a stall to feed him first and lock him in til the others are done. As long as he is first, he probably will not object too much.
Either that or develop an interesting jogging companion.
With my girls, when they aren't preggo, Tim gets fed a lesser amount in the field while Dot gets fed a larger amount in the pen- then they can go out together. It helps when they aren't getting alfalfa which they do when they are preggo- the grass hay helps keep weight down.

 

[Sara]

I'd say stop giving him pelleted feed.

 

[sparks879]

I agree with sara, i never keep whethers as a rule because i have a dairy goat herd and whethers are useless to me. But whethers don't need grain, a handful at the very most as a treat. My bucks don't even get grain most of the year. My buck kids get a small ration the first year so they can grow and then they get a little through rut to keep them in condition but after that they don;t need any. A good quality hay fresh water and minerals with browse is plenty for a non working whether.
beth

 

[dry_gulch]

I guess I will stop giving the pellets, but he is not going to be happy. He is more than a goat, he is my beloved pet. He isn't any more use than my old mean tempered cat, but they both get to stay because I love them. He follows me everywhere, wants to 'help' with whatever I am doing, has conversations with me, etc. I haven't tried jogging with him though! :lol: He would keel over and die I think!

Thanks for your answers, I appreciate it.

 

[kritterkeeper]

I Have one of these fat weather

Well I don't my sister in law does -- He lives with the diary cows and eat as much as they do we think... The cows are black and white and so is he --so he must think he is one them..

my sister in law called the other day and asked if it would be possiable to put him in with our goats to get some wieght off him... so Tuesday we are going to try and catch him and get him up to our pen and see how he will be with our goats

So he is going to go a a straight hay diet... or should we do it slowly..

Donna B

 

[sparks879]

i would just stop the grain, a lot of times with whethers you're doing more harm then good with grain. they can develope urinary problems with too much protein in their diets. You can still give him a small handful as a treat every now and then. Just not a regular ration. Subsitute it with other treats so he knows he is still special. Give him e a piece of whole wheat bred ever now and then. carrots and apples are nummy. My goats love broccoli stems, banana peels are yummy. see what he likes. saltines crackers especially the honey flavored animal crackers. cheerios cooed pasta. of course all of these things need to be given in small doses and only once in awhile. But it will make him feel like he is still loved. He will get used to no grain in his diet.
beth

 

[mystic's_mom]

Hello all, I have a really fat wether. He is the best goat ever, he just is a pig in goat fur. He is a pygmy, so he is also a wizard at getting out of pens. Nearly all the other goats I have are his children and he doesn't like them much, he is also the boss of the herd so he pushes others away from the food pans. But he is getting to where he is walking, er, waddling and I can't figure out what to do. He is bright-eyed and seems to feel ok, but his walk. Oh dear. His hooves are in decent shape and he is utd on CDT. They all have free choice good quality hay and some browse, and I give them a pelleted food. I have been bad about giving him 'treats' but I have stopped that. It has been really cold and rainy here the last couple of weeks so none of them have been moving much, but the sun and warmth are back. He used to run around with the herd but now he just follows them. Any suggestions, barring starving them all? The other goats are nice and round pygmies, very lively and happy.

Definitely cut out ANY grain on this guy; especially if he is a piggy, pushing everyone out, and hogging it all. Tie him up while you grain everyone else, and make sure the grain is gone before you release him.

If he doesn't drop any weight, you may have to seperate him and try a hard core diet on him; if he still doesn't seem to lose anything, it could be he has thyroid, or diabetic issues causing him to store more fat than necessary.

Before you try any type of diet, you may want to have a blood panel run on him to rule out Thyroid (especially) and other issues.

 

[kritterkeeper]

So if you don't feed grain- you just feed hay and minerals? Even in the winter

Donna B

 

[Sara]

If you have only adult wethers. Yes. And Dry does. If you have a producing doe, or a pregnant one you should probably feed grain. Actually you should definetly feed grain to a producing doe and maybe to a pregnant one depending on her condition,

 

[kritterkeeper]

At the moment as for weathers I have
3 pygmy weathers all 18 mo old and
1 nubian sannan weather 9 mo old and.

and about to put the big guy in with them and he is a weather and JUST PLAIN HUGE... and I have no idea what he is looks pygmy but I am not sure because he is so big...


as for girls we have 4
1 breed in Nov. nubian/alpine, 18 mo. old in great condition
1 nubian getting breed sometime soon, 4 yrs old in great condition
1 pygmy doe 4 years old breed this month great condition
1 boar/nubian 18 mo NOT BREED!

TRING TO LEARN- Want happy BUT HEALTHY GOATIES

Donna B

 

[StaceyRosado]

how about you post a picture of your little guy you are concerned about and maybe we can help you determin how overweight he is or calm your fears about his health.